Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill expressed satisfaction with his squad's performance after a 1-1 draw in a friendly against Wales on Tuesday night. The match in Cardiff saw the visiting side recover from an early deficit to secure a result, per Sky Sports. O'Neill highlighted the mental strength of his young players during the encounter.
Wales took the lead through a Brennan Johnson strike in the first half. However, Northern Ireland equalised after the interval when Dion Charles converted a penalty. According to The Guardian, the result continues a run of competitive performances for O'Neill's developing team. The manager noted that his players showed great character to stay in the game after conceding.
The fixture served as preparation for upcoming competitive internationals later this year. Several younger members of the Northern Ireland squad gained significant minutes during the contest. O'Neill told reporters that the experience against a settled Welsh side would benefit his group in the long term, as reported by Reuters.
